3:6 When Josiah was king of Judah, the Lord> said to me, “Jeremiah, you have no doubt seen what wayward Israel has done.13 You have seen how she went up to every high hill and under every green tree to give herself like a prostitute to other gods.143:7 Yet even after she had done all that, I thought that she might come back to me.15 But she did not. Her sister, unfaithful Judah, saw what she did.163:8 She also saw17 that I gave wayward Israel her divorce papers and sent her away because of her adulterous worship of other gods.18 Even after her unfaithful sister Judah had seen this,19 she still was not afraid, and she too went and gave herself like a prostitute to other gods.203:9 Because she took her prostitution so lightly, she defiled the land21 through her adulterous worship of gods made of wood and stone.223:10 In spite of all this,23 Israel’s sister, unfaithful Judah, has not turned back to me with any sincerity; she has only pretended to do so,”24 says the Lord>.
3:11 Then the Lord> said to me, “Under the circumstances, wayward Israel could even be considered less guilty than unfaithful Judah.25

The Lord Calls on Israel and Judah to Repent

3:12 “Go and shout this message to my people in the countries in the north.26 Tell them,

You must confess29 that you have given yourself to30 foreign gods under every green tree,

and have not obeyed my commands,’ says the Lord>.

3:14 “Come back to me, my wayward sons,” says the Lord>, “for I am your true master.31 If you do,32 I will take one of you from each town and two of you from each family group, and I will bring you back to Zion.
3:15 I will give you leaders33 who will be faithful to me.34 They will lead you with knowledge and insight.
3:16 In those days, your population will greatly increase35 in the land. At that time,” says the Lord>, “people will no longer talk about having the ark36 that contains the Lord>’s covenant with us.37 They will not call it to mind, remember it, or miss it. No, that will not be done any more!383:17 At that time the city of Jerusalem39 will be called the Lord>’s throne. All nations will gather there in Jerusalem to honor the Lord>’s name.40 They will no longer follow the stubborn inclinations of their own evil hearts.413:18 At that time42 the nation of Judah and the nation of Israel will be reunited.43 Together they will come back from a land in the north to the land that I gave to your ancestors as a permanent possession. ”44